09.02.08
Telluride ‘08: “Slumdog Millionaire,” Festival Darling In The Making
All of a sudden, buzz for this film has been building up to what some are calling this years “Juno,” or at least that is what Fox Searchlight wants it to be, and we’re listening. It may be too soon, but if the raves mean anything…Needless to say, I’m looking forward to this one.
“Slumdog Millionaire” by Danny Boyle
Todd McCarthy, “Driven by fantastic energy and a torrent of vivid images of India old and new, Slumdog Millionaire is a blast. Danny Boyle’s film uses the dilemma of a poor teenager suspected of cheating on the local version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? to tell a story of social mobility that is positively Dickensian in its attention to detail and the extremes of poverty and wealth within a culture. Originally a Warner Independent title, the picture has just been acquired by Fox Searchlight for release in the U.S., where it will open at Thanksgiving, although Warner Bros. retains an interest. Tasty item looks to catch on in a big way with young, adventurous and merely curious viewers in wide specialized release.”
Kim Voynar, “There’s sadness and tragedy within Slumdog Millionaire — starvation, genocide, child prostitution and overwhelming oppression — but there’s humor, humanity and dignity as well. Boyle, stepping outside the UK to focus his lens on India, seems to have freed himself here to bring his brilliance as a director to its fullest fruition. Slumdog Millionaire is Boyle’s best film to date, which is saying quite a lot; He’s made a joyous, fun, and wonderfully accessible film that should play well in Toronto before moving on to wider release.”
Peter Sciretta, “Based on the bestselling Vikas Swarup novel Q and A, Slumdog Millionaire was scripted by Simon Beaufoy, who had also written the script for The Full Monty, one of Boyle’s favorite films. My only complaint is that the torture sequence that begins the film felt unnecessary to the story, and out of place in this film. But it’s only a minor issue.”
Jeff Wells’ Friends, “The ending pays off big time. The audience went wild. It reminded me of the audience reaction to Juno here last year.”
Kevin Buist, “Some will say that many of my issues with the film are due to the fact that I’m not seeing it as Boyle’s homage to Bollywood. While it’s true that the film is deeply indebted to the colorful and melodramatic musicals that are a mainstay of Indian culture, I don’t think the film holds up even under this reading. The key problem goes back to the lead actors’ performances. Great Bollywood players are not naturalistic by any means, they are exaggerated, playful, and incredibly charismatic. It seems like Boyle couldn’t decide which way he wanted Patel and Pinto to play it. Should they be overly theatrical to match the color and up-tempo editing? Or should they play it more realistically, two normal people brought together by extraordinary circumstances? In the end they do neither…Slumdog Millionaire is not without merit. It’s nothing if not an ambitious film, and certain scenes do work well. But ultimately it’s an annoying cacophony atop a predictable structure.”
Check out the official website for “Slumdog Millionaire“
Risky Business and the “Juno” labelling – Little Miss Slumdog (Similar to Craig Kennedy’s “Little Miss Millionaire” in title anyway)
J.D. said,
September 2, 2008 at 7:59 am
Danny Boyle!
Danny Boyle!
Salmaya said,
September 2, 2008 at 9:37 am
Millions + Slumdog Millionaire = A director with a sense of humor
Kerry said,
September 2, 2008 at 9:39 am
I have high hopes for this, manufactured buzz or not.
Dave said,
September 2, 2008 at 3:04 pm
It’s definitely too early to call it the new “Juno” – let’s wait for Toronto
AlphaDog said,
September 2, 2008 at 4:21 pm
From the maker of ‘Millions’……we give you ‘Slumdog Millionaire’
Craig Kennedy said,
September 2, 2008 at 7:08 pm
I think even Toronto is too early to declare it the new Juno. Wait until it comes out, makes $144 million and the backlash kicks in.
Regardless, I’m glad to hear the positive early buzz and suddenly this is one for me to keep an eye on where before I was skeptical.
Salmaya said,
September 2, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Oh that Juno backlash was just mean.
Nick Plowman said,
September 2, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Don’t even get me started on that backlash! Ugh!
I didn’t know much about it before the buzz, but it is also on my radar now. I hope it makes it to my November Festival of Festivals as well. It sounds like it deserves to play there.
J.D. said,
September 2, 2008 at 7:41 pm
*HUG*
Juno h8rs. UGH. Why do we still talk about that? It’s like the frickin destruction of Atlantis – let’s just write it out of the historical record so people can forget about it already!!!
*not as big a fan of it as Nicholas is, because no one is*
Nick Plowman said,
September 2, 2008 at 7:46 pm
Yes JD, let’s banish it for life, never again will I mention it because I love Juno and that is all that matters.
J.D. said,
September 2, 2008 at 7:56 pm
I wanna talk about baskets of puppies now!
Let’s talk about baskets of puppies!
Baskets of puppies are SOOOOOOOOOOOO cute!!! Yay!!!!!!
Justin said,
September 3, 2008 at 10:14 am
Haha, funny one Salmaya! I cannot wait for a trailer for this thing.
Friedl said,
September 3, 2008 at 1:22 pm
I thought Milliions sucked. But I enjoyed Sunshine (until the silly ending) & luurved 28 Days Later. Super-styling.
This looks very cool.
Shallow Grave is a brilliant film. Danny Boyle’s gotten a lot less ‘dark’ since his early days.. (wait, am i forgetting 28 days later..?)
Dave said,
September 3, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Millions was indeed lame, but it was not marketed for me so I didn’t worry. 28 Days Later was the best though, I really enjoyed that. You have good taste Friedl.
J.D. said,
September 3, 2008 at 6:28 pm
But Millions is one of the best films of the decade! :(
Nick Plowman said,
September 3, 2008 at 7:48 pm
I liked it a lot, but I wouldn’t go that far, but I am glad you would {someone should}
ZEKEBUDD said,
November 14, 2008 at 12:20 am
Brother, you didn’t go far enough.To paraphrase, and update, an old Rodney Dangerfield joke, look up “deus ex machina” in an online dictionary, and you’ll find a link to “Slumdog Millionaire”. It’s a thrilling fast-paced hipster version of Forrest Gump,but it’s still Forrest Gump, with an Indian accent( dot, not feather.) Not one of its hero’s successes are hard fought or earned; they come from insanely implausible coincedence. It’s all a deliriously goofy and compelling con, and those critics comparing it to Dickens because of a little Faginesque behavior ought to re-examine the careful way old Chaz constructs his plot contrivances. And the fact that Water, a much more heartbreaking India-based fairy tale film got slammed for artifice a year ago just goes to show how a good PR campaign can still spin wonders.
All that said, it stands a great shot at a Best Screenplay and Best Picture nomination; it’s Rocky directed by a guy with the street cred of Quentin Tarantino.It could be this year’s giant success, unless some journalist debunks the entire “based on a true story” conceit.